Booster club nears goal to print calendar

De Soto High School Booster Club parents didn't want another company to profit from their school by making an activities calendar, so they've made one of their own.

Booster club president Tim McNamara said the booster club was near its goal of $20,000 in ad sales for its school calendar and plans to print next week. He said in the past, money raised by the calendar wasn't sufficiently supporting school activities.

"There is an organization out of Texas who has provided copies of the sports schedules and have sold advertising to local businesses," he said. "They claim a portion goes back to the school. The reality is that it doesn't."

The club began selling ads last spring to local businesses as a fund-raiser for activities at De Soto High School.

"We have done fund-raisers in the past," McNamara said. "This seems to be one that once we get through the first year, it will perpetuate that and be much easier in years to come to do the same thing."

McNamara said all of the work done so far on the calendar had cost the club nothing. He said they were negotiating with a printer and could possibly get the printing done for free.

Club member Toni Caldwell said De Soto High School students were designing the calendar.

"The kids in computer classes are doing the art and makeup of the calendar," she said. "We're selling the ads and they're doing all of the artwork."

Caldwell said the boosters supported more than just athletic activities.

"We support band, the moonbuggy and lots of other groups," she said. "Hopefully this will help alleviate the kids having to raise money and free up the business community from being hit up so much for fund-raisers."

McNamara said the fund-raiser wouldn't replace any previous fund-raisers by the club. They will still sell Spirit Wear, which Caldwell said was done more to promote school spirit than raise money.

McNamara said he hoped the additional funds would keep students from having to raise money for activities themselves.

"The whole reason we're doing this is to help all the groups in not having to send students and athletes to raise money," he said. "Hopefully this will allow them to concentrate more on their sport or activity."

The booster club is planning to hand out calendars to parents and students at registration time in early August.

McNamara said a limited amount of space was available for advertising in the calendar. About six 2-by-2 inch spaces are left, but some advertisers could buy larger spaces that would reduce that, he said.

For more information on the calendar, call Rod Farmer at (913) 302-2220.